RAPE TRIAL: THERE is a seven million to one chance of the DNA found at the scene of a rape belonging to anyone other than Anthony Joyce, a jury heard this week.

Joyce, 49, of Neville Close, Salisbury, denies raping a 74-year-old woman in the Westbury area in June 1999.

At Bristol Crown Court on Monday, independent DNA expert, Jonathon Whittaker, said it would be seven million times more likely that the DNA found in the fingertip of a latex glove at the scene came from Joyce than from someone else.

Mr Whittaker said: "My opinion based on that figure was that the DNA result provides extremely strong support that the DNA bands had come from Mr Joyce rather than anyone else."

The DNA was in traces of sweat found on the inside of the fingertip, which was then compared to a sample taken from Joyce.

David Bate, QC, defending, warned the jury not to fall into the trap of assuming guilt on the basis of this evidence alone.

He said: "The value of that evidence depends very much on where it comes from and, more to the point, where it is found.

"We are miles away from semen in a vaginal swab or in a lady's panties, we are at the other end of the spectrum, sweat; which is entirely different."

He said that these gloves are commonly used on building sites and were often just lying around for anyone to pick up or to wear and that it was possible the DNA came from someone else.

Mr Whittaker admitted that it is possible for sweat to be transferred and that DNA can survive on an object for many years after someone has touched it.

Another independent expert, Ashley Windsor, said he was 85 to 95 per cent sure that a man caught on a CCTV camera at a Frome supermarket on the day of the attack was Anthony Joyce.

Police believe the man responsible for the attack followed the two women as they went to do their shopping.

Mr Windsor compared the image of the man shown on the CCTV tape to photographs and video footage showing Joyce.

Mr Windsor said: "I was unable to find any significant differences that would exclude the possibility of this being one and the same person.

"There is a high probability that it is the same person."

David Bate QC, for the defence, said: "There are many different people in the world, many of whom look very similar and who cannot be excluded.

"There is a very real possibility that these are different men."

Joyce denied the man on the tape was him and said that he had never been to that particular supermarket.

Case continues